SLOTKIN FAMILY TRUST GOLD PROOF TYPE SET
$10 Coronet Head, Motto (1866-1907)

Owner Comments:

1876 $10 PR65 Ultra Cameo NGC. This example is fully struck with sharply squared rims and fully defined design elements. The ultra cameo contast is very evident. Just as the other proof gold coins of this year, the mintage was limited to only 45 coins. Today, approximately 15 examples still survive. Larger denomination gold proofs did not survive in the same numbers as the smaller denomination coins. This is purely a matter of economics, as each coin tied up a substantial amount of money at that time. Ten dollars or 20 dollars was a considerable sum to expend for a single coin at the time, and retaining multiple examples representing various dates was a significant proposition. Cost-of-living calculators available on the Internet tell us that 10 dollars in the year 1913 is equivalent to 200 dollars today. Obviously, 10 dollars in 1876 would be worth even more today. If a collector held some of these gold proofs when falling on economic hard times, the largest denominations would be spent first.
Not only are proof examples of this issue rare, but business strikes are similarly rare. Only 687 examples were coined for circulation, with Mint State survivors virtually unknown. We doubt that even 100 eagles dated 1876 survive in any grade or striking format.(Only 800 business strikes and 25 proofs. 2 in 65 Ultra Cameo, none finer.